Johnsfolly

That's a great looking smallmouth. Great catch.

We just got a vehicle large enough for me to sleep in. However I will have two of my kids with me on this trip. Pretty sure that they wouldn't like sleeping in the car with dad. Besides having a room will keep them from draining the battery with their games or videos.

I was in the car driving through the town. So I missed standing at the 3 corners. Definitely changed my plans of fishing that access. I have come upon some naked folks in the past. Never know who might be around the next bend. Been working on the getting the wife's blessing. Have to show her the cost of the hotels to get the final nod. I'll keep you posted.

If you have ever read many of my posts, it's probably pretty obvious that I'm somewhat of a numbers guy. I track numbers and types of fish that I catch. I calculate catch per trip metrics, etc. So seeing that I am approaching my 1000th post on OAF, so I wanted that post to be something a bit more than just a reply. I have been travelling for work lately (with no fishing opportunities) and have not had the time to get out fishing or hunting until this last weekend. I have been trying to catch a Roaring river brown trout and a redspot chub the last couple of times that I have headed down that way. Over the last several weeks I have also dug deeper into on-line discussions and information about the Neosho strain of smallmouth bass. So I was able to take a day off last Friday and decided to head back down to southwest Missouri with the goal to catch each of these three fish. Left the house in Columbia at 4 am and drove down to an access point on a tributary of the Elk River. I had seen some catch records for Neosho SMB in that area and also had confirmation of redspot chubs being caught there as well. By 10 am I was on the water. The creek was running gin clear and may have been somewhat low. I was seeing large schools of minnows and a fair number of crayfish, So I started with a 1/16 oz Ned rig with PBJ body. My first fish was a short bass, but not a smallmouth. This creek was mix of gravel, some bedrock, and some large rocks. There was also some deadfalls and root wads creating depth and structure. The first smallmouths that I saw were actually up under some of the larger cracks and ledges in the bedrock. I got a couple to hit the ned as it dropped off the ledge in front of them. I also threw up near the brush and trees and caught some there as well. I spoke with some folks and am pretty certain that these are Neosho smallmouths. I saw several larger SMB, but they were really spooky and I only ended up with a half dozen SMB on the day. The low numbers of smallmouth can be attributed as well to my targeting the minnows and darters in this creek. There were medium (ca. 20-30 fish) to large (>50 fish) schools in several of the pools. Most of them were cardinal shiners and stonerollers like this one. fishing small 1/32 oz marabou jigs and worms I did land a few redspot chub females. However it wasn't until later in the day when I was drifting a worm into a school of large suckers that I caught a male redspot with the characteristic spot behind the eye. I may have to keep this stream in mind next spring when these males will be displaying their breeding coloration and tubercles. I did not get any response from the larger suckers and decided to head out to another river access. So I left these deer and got off the creek. Since I was so close, I headed towards and through Southwest City MO just to say that I was in the south westernmost portion of the state then into Oklahoma and then back into MO heading back north to my hotel. On the way back I stopped at an access on the Elk River and saw some interesting topminnows and a thin minnow species in large schools. However I could not catch any of the minnows, but did land a largemouth and a smallmouth on the ned rig. The smallmouth dropped off the hook just as I grabbed the jig so I could not see if it was a possible Neosho. The next morning I went to the Roaring river. My plan was to park at the conservation area and fish both downstream and upstream from that access. The morning could not have been more pleasant as I got my gear on and the sun was coming up. As you can see there was a slight fog in the air. I headed downstream at first and this section of the river has holes that can be mostly bedrock without much structure or could have large rock or wood creating the holes. The first couple of holes that I fished only held minnows and suckers with no visible trout. One or tow of these holes had the bottoms absolutely covered with minnows, again with most of them likely to be stonerollers. I fished three holes where I had caught and seen trout on my last trip and came up with no trout. I did end up at a large hole behind a fallen tree and rootwad that had at least three browns in the hole. I could not get an interest in any bait that I threw at them. They just sulked on the bottom of the hole. So I headed upstream from the access point and got into more fishy water with deeper runs lined with large rock and other structure. I caught my first trout, a 16" plump rainbow on a ginger/brown marabous jig in a pool just in front of a large fallen tree. It gave me a tremendous fight do to its size and its use of the current against me. I got it revived and back into its hole near that tree. I caught a half dozen more rainbows on the marabou jigs, microjigs under a float, and small jerkbaits. I saw brown trout in areas that I would have predicted them to be, but no takers. This 12" rainbow was caught with the microjig. I also caught this 4.5" rainbow on the microjig and float combination. I positioned the fish for a good photo of the parr marks on this fish. Sometimes you don't get the shot that you expected. So I ended day two with only rainbow trout, several minnows, and no browns. On the way back to my hotel I stopped in an talked with Tim at Tim's Fly shop. I had been fishing 4 lb test on a small Pflueger reel because my Sedona reel with the 6lb nano and fluorocarbon leader was having drag issues. Fortunately Tim had a larger reel, which I bought and loaded with the nanofil line later that night. I was great to finally meet Tim and talk fishing, particularly about brown trout. Before I went into his shop, I really didn't think that I had a chance at any of the browns that I had seen so far and was really planning on maybe heading to fish Crane creek for McCloud rainbows or the James for Ozark bass the next day. After our talk I decided to head back out earlier in the morning to try again. The next morning I got out and got to fishing one of the larger pools that I had seen the day before. There was a fallen tree that was laying perpendicular to the shore with the top of the tree in deeper water. I threw a jerkbait and got the hit I was hoping for and landed this 17" plump brown trout. I got the fish revived and feisty before releasing it back into the pool. I had hoped to have gone fishing with Dan Hufferd on this trip, but that will have to wait for a later date. I also had three access points on the James river and tributaries figured out to try for an Ozark bass. However after meeting a half naked man at one access, high muddy water at another, and a blocked off bridge and many no-access signs at the last, I just headed home without wetting a line. All in all I considered this trip to SW MO a success. Maybe in a couple of weeks I'll probably get back to thinking about different minnows that can only be caught in that area or of the McCloud rainbows in Crane and I will begin bugging my wife to let me head back down that way again.

Congratulations again! Making the finals was a great accomplishment and it looked like you just missed getting third place. I personally don't even remember seeing the second place entry. I know that you will keep taking and wowwing us with your videos and stills. I'm looking forward to your next video.

I can't see the dorsal fin well enough to see in there is a dark spot and the coloration on the marking on the cheeks is kind of muddled to get a good id on this fish. however the light edging of the pelvic and anal fins are not indicative of a goggle-eye/rock bass. It's very likely a warmouth. green sunfish or a hybrid of the two.

Al That is a fantastic view. Look's like it could be one of your paintings. Thanks for posting this panoramic view.

Not a problem. I recognize that Current river brown trout in your profile. I may have even taken that picture. Maybe we can still get in a closer trip here in Oct some evening, possibly that bass and crappie lake you've been fishing. I promise not to keep any crappie!

Very nice pod of smallmouth. Great job and congrats on your win!

Got again for a fall turkey this Sat. I hunted another section of National Forest land where I had spooked some turkeys back in Aug. I heard no birds first thing in the morning. Saw a few squirrels within 10-25 yards of me. I had my extra-full turkey choke and loaded with turkey loads. So I held my shots. With the limited time for fall turkey, I didn't want to blow an opportunity on a bird. I kept moving to different ridge tops and calling occasionally. Still no answer. Kept getting badgered by squirrels. They knew that they were safe on this day. many came within 3-5 yards of me. I kicked up a rabbit and would not have had a shot if I was inclined to pull the trigger. I did get to look over a lot of different mushrooms on this hunt. many were gilled mushrooms that I could not id easily and I only left with their photos like the ones below. I found several fall chanterelles like these on the big root wad of a fallen tree. What a Halloween treat!! I couldn't wait to pick a bunch. Too bad it was a Halloween trick. Since these were the poisonous jack-o-lantern mushrooms. Since they are young enough, maybe I will try to get back to them some evening soon to see if they are still bioluminescent. Here is an older clump on the same root wad. Sad to see these old oyster mushrooms. They looked like they were weeping to not be going home to feed my family. I did find five fresh oysters on this trip. Did find a few more lion's mane or bearded tooth mushrooms on this log. Since I was still hunting turkeys, I came down off of the north ridges, crossed the creek and went up onto the southern ridges on this property. Still not seeing sign or hearing any birds. Then I cam across this guy next to a large oak with only a 1/4 to 1/2 of the trunk still living. I conferred with my fungus guy (aka BilletHead) and we believe that this may be a young hen-of the woods. The other possibility would be a cauliflower mushroom. Both of these options are considered choice by mushroom foragers. It was about 5 lbs. I got to carry this about 1.5 miles back to my car. Since I did not want to destroy it by putting in my turkey vest, I carried it by hand. I lost less than a couple of ozs during the walk/hike back. As I came out onto a large overgrown cattle field, I did notice several overturned and torn apart cow patties indicating some likely turkey activity. I dreaded that I would spook a bird and not be able to shoot with one arm holding this large mushroom. Fortunately I only spooked more squirrels and one unseen deer. I'll just have to get back out again.

Congrats Dan! So with an Oct walleye how many consecutive months do you have towards your goal 7, 8 ....? Keep it up buddy. You still fishing spoons? Congrats again!

Tonight's dinner was roasted chicken, porcini risotto, and lion's mane and oyster mushrooms. Kind of monochromatic. I found the lion's manes last Sunday and some more this morning. The larger older one was a little bitter. The younger fresh ones were sweet and meaty. My daughter thought they were a little too fuzzy.

I found my first ripe ones ever on my Current river trip in mid-September. I really don't know how long of a "season" they have and if there would be any point in looking this late in the year. Good luck if you guys get out to look for them.

That's awesome. I will keep looking around here. I do hate finding choice mushrooms in their decline. Makes for a sad trip. though it's great for the mushroom.

BH We have been getting some light rains the last couple of days. Maybe had a heavy rain last night. I was sleeping and apparently didn't hear the wind or the rain. Will have to get out again and see what we can find. We still need to get a couple more bushytails anyway. Hopefully you guys are getting some rain.

Phil Great trip report congrats on the fish you guys were able to catch. Pretty jealous to say the least. I love your last photo with the bear in the background and the sockeye in the water in the foreground.

Thanks everyone. I'm still awestruck by how that day played out. I could not have ever imagined that we would have that great of a day. I would love to get out after them again now that I am a seasoned pro . Just way too many interests and work issues. I love and hate the next 6 weeks.

I appreciate that Eric82. It may have to be late Nov or even Jan. A lot going on at work and as I mentioned working towards my brown trout goals for the year plus whatever hunting I may try to get in this fall. JHK I wouldn't mind a caddie for my next brown trout trip. I'll play the olive mohair leech on this undercut bank and rock run. I still have to get one in Roaring river and Taneycomo. I believe that you are pretty familiar with that last one, especially on the night bite.

I love to hear about multispecies trips. Congrats. Too bad on the lost crankbait.

I agree. I really have a problem with him in most of his movies. I also have a similar problem with Bruce Dern.

I like "Absolute Power" with Clint, Ed Harris, Gene Hackman, and Scott Glenn. Also another great movie with Scott Glenn and Ed Harris is "The Right Stuff" My son and I believe that the greatest car chase scene isn't in Bullit or the French Connection, but the RC car chase in " The Dead Pool". I laugh just thinking of this line from the actor that starred as the spaceship capitan of "The Forbidden Planet", I am serious and don't call me Shirley!

As always a great job on the wild ones! Great looking fish and congrats on developing a new nymphing technique. I'm too fixated upon brown trout lately and drove right by Lane Spring ... again. Maybe if I knew a guy that knows this section real well.. Do they close that area in the winter?

"No, Mr. Bond I expect you to die." - Goldfinger "I'm glad you said that Annie, because what we got going here ain't exactly love." - Machine gun Vertibo "It's just a model." - King Author's Porter "Why don't we go into the bedroom and I'll fill you in." - Fletch "And this positively infantile preoccupation with bosoms. In all my time in this wretched, godforsaken country, the one thing that has appalled me most of all is this preposterous preoccupation with bosoms." - J. Algernon Hawthorne

OTF Good luck on the new job and the move. Always a nervousness and excitement about going to live somewhere else. If you have read many of my posts you'll know that I have lived in a lot of different places both within and outside of this country. All that I can say is take advantage of what each place has to offer. Learn something new and fish for something different. Tell us about your latest Great Lakes salmon catch or a north Indiana steelhead or even a White river carp within the Indianapolis city limits.

I can't believe that I missed Ness' namesake movie searching for that most holy of Grrrails!! Probably the most quoted movie in our household.